Parlier council directs staff to draft credit‑card use policy after contentious discussion about oversight

The Parlier City Council on March 7 directed staff to develop a formal city policy governing use of municipal credit cards after a contentious discussion in which council members and residents cited past late fees, unclear receipts, and the need for written approvals.

Mayor Alma Beltran framed the item as a transparency and fiduciary oversight measure: "There has to be a process and a procedure of how to deal with credit cards," she said, arguing that staff should request the card in writing and obtain pre‑approval from a department head or the city manager. Several council members said a sign‑out procedure and receipts exist in some departments but that citywide documentation and written pre‑approval were inconsistent.

Members of the public raised concerns about late fees and whether reimbursements had been made. Staff (identified in the record as Chief and clerk Berta) described existing sign‑out/receipt practices and said the police department already obtains chief approval for purchases; staff agreed to develop standard forms, prohibited purchase lists, training, and oversight procedures to reduce the risk of abuse.

Council recorded a roll‑call direction for staff to prepare and return a credit‑card policy for formal adoption; the meeting recorded the directive as passing by voice/roll‑call (4 yes, 1 absent). Staff will return with a policy that specifies approval workflows, emergency exceptions with documentation, and recommended limits for card use and single‑purchase thresholds.